Toy animal



M. WATERMAN.

TOY ANIMAL.

APTLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1920.

W INVENTOR if i TOY ANIMAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. a, 1921.

Application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 359,836.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, MABEL WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in'the county of Westchester and State of New York, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Animals, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to animal toys and more particularly to the structure and articulation of the various body members of so-called stuffed animals. a

The various features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims, and certain of the objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the specification in connection with the detailed description of the present preferred embodiment; other ofv such objects and advantages will be obvious herefrom ormay be ascertained from use of theinvention.

The invention consists in the'novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to 1 herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head of the stuffed body with the furry exterior coat omitted; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complete and finished stuffed body.

In the production of toy animals, especially those commonly known as stuffed animals, to render them attractive and pleasing to children, it is necessary to impart to such animals an animated and lifelike appearance. On this depends very largely the salability so far as the maker and dealer are concerned, and upon it depends the pleasure the child derives from playing therewith. It is also desirable to impart change and variety to the appearance and position or posture of the animal, es-

pecially thereby to enhance the animated and life-like appearance thereof. It is on such changes in posture and appearance, while preserving the natural and animated appearance that the relative permanency of the childs interest in the toy depends. It is also obvious that its commercial value is thereby enhanced.

The present embodiment of the invention exemplifies it as applied to the mounting or articulation of the ears upon the head of a stuffed rabbit or bunny. The ears of the toy animal are movable into, and will remain in, a great variety of positions, and as in the natural animal, the appearance is greatly varied thereby.

eferring now in specific detail to the illustrated embodiment a rabbit l is shown having an exterior body covering of lifelike furry fabric, and having its legs 2, 3, 4 and 5 articulated to the body in such manner as to be independently movable into a variety of positions. The head 6 is also movably articulated to the body so as to be movable into many life-like positions The means for fastening the ears to the head are designed to permit of a great variety of changes in the relative positions of the ears,'both with respect to each other and to the body of the rabbit or other animal. The expression or life-like appearance of such animals is greatly enchanced and accentuated by such changes in the relative position of the ears, and this is perhaps especially true of the rabbit.

As embodied, a base plate or cap 9 is provided, preferably fixed to the head, the ears 7 and 8 being movably fixed to and supported by such plate or cap. The cap or plate 9 is preferably sufliciently extensive to cover closely a considerable portion of the head and is shaped or conformed to fit closely upon the head. The cap or plate 9 is of a firm or rigid material and is preferably made of tin or other sheet material.

In the present preferred form of attachment of the cap 9 to the head, the cap is sewn to a lining 14: which fits closely over and is sewn to the head. For this purpose, the cap 9 has perforations 11 therein through which the sewing of the cap to the lining is effected. The cap 9 is thus firmly fixed to the animals head. The exterior furry fabric of course, will cover the plate upon the head.

The means for moving the cars into, and retaining them in, a great variety of positions, relatively to the head and to each other, as embodied, comprises hinges 12 and 13 fastened to cap 9 upon the exterior side thereof. The hinges may be fastened to the cap in any suitable manner as by soldering,-

and if the hinges. work a little .stiffly, it will prove advantageous in causing the ears to remain in any position to which moved.

Supports for the ears 7 and 8 are provided, and as embodied, wings 15 and 16 are soldered or otherwise fastened to the hinges, and are bent about into proper desired posi-' tion. Also soldered or otherwise fastened to the foregoing are loops 17 and 1S, preferably of stiff wire, one end of each loop being fastened to its hinge and the other end of said'loop being fastened to the corresponding wings The loops thus constitute a frame or support all about and along each ear just within and around the edge of the open part thereof. The furry exterior coat fabric is then brought up in life-like conformation over the loops 17 and 18 to form the exterior of the ears. 7

All the foregoing affords a firm construction, simple and sturdy enough to stand a great deal of the mauling visited upon such toys without danger of destruction or deformity, and which is capable of a wide variety ofv changes into many life-like positions, the ears remaining naturally in such positionsuntil again intentionally moved, as well as possessing many other advantages.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. In a stuffed animal toy and in combination the stuffed body, a rigid cap upon the head, a pair of hingesfixed to the cap, ear

supports fixed to the hinges, and ears carried by said supports.

2. In a stuffed animal toy and in combination the stuffed body, a lining upon the head, a rigid cap fixed to the lining, a pair of hinges fixed to the cap, ear supports fixed to the hinges, and ears carried by said supports. V

3. In a stuffed animal toy and in combina-' 5. In a stuffed animal toy and in combination, the stuffed body, a rigi'dplate fastened to the'body and covered by the exterior covering of the body, a hinge fixed to the rigid plate, a support for a body member fixed to the hinge, and a body'member mounted upon the support, and anexterior body covering inclosing said hinge and support.

6. In a stuffedanimal toy and in'combination, the stuffed body, a rigid plate fastened to the body and'covered by the exterior covering of the body, a plate pivotally support ed on said rigid plate, and a body member carried by and covering saidpivotally supported plate' p In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses. I V

MABEL WA'TERMAN. VVllJIlQSSQS THOMAS J. CoNvELLAN, Enwoon D. SMITH. 

